How Does a Toad Catch Its Prey?

Toads capture their food in the same way frogs do. The prey must be within reach of the toad’s tongue in order for the toad to capture it. This means that the toad must sit still and let the prey come to it, instead of hunting the prey out like many animals do.

The toad has a long and sticky tongue that it uses to catch insects, worms, and other small creatures. The toad’s tongue is attached to the front of its mouth, instead of the back like the tongues of most animals. Thus, the tongue can be flicked out a long way.

When the toad strikes, its whip like tongue flicks out faster than your eyes can follow it. The sticky liquid attaches to the prey so that the prey sticks on the tongue. The sticky tongue then whips back, dragging the catch into the toad’s wide mouth. The sticky liquid also acts as a lubrication to slide the prey down in to the toads’ stomach.

When the toad swallows, its eyes sink into its head, and help to push the food down its throat. A toad eats about 100 insects every day! Frogs and toads help us by eating many harmful insects found in gardens and on farms.